Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cardiac triggering of an imaging system. a method for an imaging system comprises acquiring, during a scan of a subject, an electrical signal indicating a periodic physiological motion of an organ of the subject, inputting a sample of the electrical signal into a trained neural network to detect whether a peak is present in the sample, triggering acquisition of image data responsive to detecting the peak in the sample, and not triggering the acquisition of image data responsive to not detecting the peak in the sample. In this way, the timing of data acquisition may be optimally and robustly synchronized with a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A method of generating ECG reference data for MR image data acquisition includes obtaining an initial ECG dataset from a patient prior to moving the patient into a bore of the MRI device, wherein the initial ECG dataset comprises at least two channels of ECG data. An initial set of R-peaks is identified and an initial R-peak polarity and initial R-R interval are determined. A reference ECG dataset is then obtained from the patient once the patient is in the bore of the MRI device. A reference set of R-peaks is identified in the reference ECG dataset based on the initial R-peak polarity and the initial R-R interval, and R-peak reference data is generated based on the reference set of R-peaks. Acquisition of MR image data from the subject is then triggered using the R-peak reference data.

Abstract: A method of controlling magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes generating a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) navigator profiles reflecting motion of an anatomic boundary region of an imaging subject over time at a measurement interval, and then generating a plurality of navigator image segments each for a corresponding 1D navigator profile of the plurality of 1D navigator profiles. A navigator image is then generated based on the plurality of navigator image segments, and a determination is made whether to acquire MR image data based on the navigator image.

Abstract: A method of controlling magnetic resonance (MR) image data acquisition includes generating a plurality of one-dimensional (1D) navigator profiles reflecting motion of an anatomic boundary region of an imaging subject over time at a measurement interval, and then generating a plurality of navigator image segments each for a corresponding 1D navigator profile of the plurality of 1D navigator profiles. A navigator image is then generated based on the plurality of navigator image segments, and a determination is made whether to acquire MR image data based on the navigator image.

Abstract: A method of generating ECG reference data for MR image data acquisition includes obtaining an initial ECG dataset from a patient prior to moving the patient into a bore of the MRI device, wherein the initial ECG dataset comprises at least two channels of ECG data. An initial set of R-peaks is identified and an initial R-peak polarity and initial R-R interval are determined. A reference ECG dataset is then obtained from the patient once the patient is in the bore of the MRI device. A reference set of R-peaks is identified in the reference ECG dataset based on the initial R-peak polarity and the initial R-R interval, and R-peak reference data is generated based on the reference set of R-peaks. Acquisition of MR image data from the subject is then triggered using the R-peak reference data.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for cardiac triggering of an imaging system. a method for an imaging system comprises acquiring, during a scan of a subject, an electrical signal indicating a periodic physiological motion of an organ of the subject, inputting a sample of the electrical signal into a trained neural network to detect whether a peak is present in the sample, triggering acquisition of image data responsive to detecting the peak in the sample, and not triggering the acquisition of image data responsive to not detecting the peak in the sample. In this way, the timing of data acquisition may be optimally and robustly synchronized with a cardiac cycle.

Abstract: A system and method for MR imaging is disclosed that includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is included that is programed to generate a motion waveform from a physiological signal acquired from a subject to be imaged and compare a shape of the motion waveform to a shape of a reference motion waveform to identify points in the motion waveform corresponding to a periodic complex. The computer is also programed to trigger MR data acquisition from the subject upon identification of the periodic complex.

Abstract: A system and method for MR imaging is disclosed that includes an MRI system having a plurality of gradient coils positioned about a bore of a magnet to impress a polarizing magnetic field and an RF transceiver system and an RF switch controlled by a pulse module to transmit RF signals to an RF coil assembly to acquire MR images. A computer is included that is programmed to generate a motion waveform from a physiological signal acquired from a subject to be imaged and compare a shape of the motion waveform to a shape of a reference motion waveform to identify points in the motion waveform corresponding to a periodic complex. The computer is also programmed to trigger MR data acquisition from the subject upon identification of the periodic complex.